You Don't Need Permission to Be Yourself

When the Barbie movie came out it made box office history, though not without controversy. To me, I felt a bit misled by the trailers. It looked like a fun film where Barbie and Ken travel to the world of humans and zany hijinx ensue.

What I got was over 2hrs of someone's personal opinion on society. I don't watch films or read books to be lectured. What I want is entertainment and Barbie (like so many other movies about my childhood toys) failed at entertaining.

The thing that stood out the most in the Barbie is towards the end when America Ferrara's character starts expounding on how difficult it is to be a woman in a so-called "man's world." She rattles off a laundry list of grievances then punctuates it with how hard it is to do and still be liked.

This gave me pause. As a female viewer watching this rant I didn't relate to anything she was saying. That's because I learned a long time ago not to let the opinions of others impact my life in any way. So, when she's having this meltdown - hoping viewers are nodding along in agreement - I'm thinking: "Sounds like a you problem."

Let me say it loud and clear so so people all over the Hollywood hype machine can hear it:

You don't need anyone's permission to be yourself.

Unfortunately, we live in a world of social status where "likes" and "views" are currency. Generations have grown up with a need for acceptance. This means whatever the current trend is they follow it, even if it means doing something that goes against their actual character.

So, in a way society is more like a Barbie doll than ever. They dress up, play make believe for their social feed, and in reality there is nothing filling them with substance.

As an author, I write characters to be unique. If they all conformed to meet a certain criteria, how boring would that story be?

When writing your own life story remember that authenticity counts more than getting people to click the like button. Your true essence will attract the right people into your life.